The sound of big band jazz arrives in the United Arab Emirates next month (May 2010) with live performances by The Duke Ellington Big Band, formed in tribute to the man widely considered America’s greatest and most prolific composer.
The Palladium in Dubai, the Middle East’s newest and most flexible independent event venue, will be hosting the only fully public performance of The Duke Ellington Big Band as part of the launch of Panoramajazz - a programme that aims to bring jazz orchestras to the Arabian Gulf on an annual basis.
“Panoramajazz endeavours to use the harmonising power of jazz to stimulate increased cultural interchange between United States of America and the United Arab Emirates,” said Dr Otto Starzmann, Marketing Director of the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts in New York.
“The inaugural production will give audiences in the region the opportunity to enjoy the big band sound while simultaneously experiencing an impressive sample of the incredible range of Duke Ellington’s contribution to American music.”
The Duke Ellington Big Bank will be appearing at The Palladium, Dubai Media City, for one night only on Thursday, 27 May 2010 following restricted and invitation only performances in Abu Dhabi.
Duke Ellington, who led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974, was one of most influential artists in recorded music and widely recognised as one of the greatest figures in the history of jazz. His music also included blues, gospel, film scores, popular and classical and he composed a huge songbook. “He is considered by many to be America’s greatest composer, bandleader and recording artist,” said Starzmann.
The Duke Ellington Big Band to play the UAE will have 15 members and will include male and female vocalists. Since no one can replace Duke Ellington as a band leader, the band performs without a conductor but the lead musician in the band appearing on this tour will be Victor Goines, the renowned saxophonist and clarinet player who is also Director of Jazz Studies at Northwestern University, Illinois.
Accompanying the band will be Mercedes Ellington, the most senior of the composer’s grandchildren and the producer, director and choreographer of the Panoramajazz programme. She is torchbearer for the iconic Ellington cultural inheritance and formed The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts to ensure continuity of the legacy.
The Duke Ellington Big Band will be performing at the Palladium in Dubai Media City on Thursday 27 May 2010. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the performance starts at 8 p.m.
Ticket prices start at AED195 and are available from www.boxofficeme.com and www.timeouttickets.com or phone 800 4669.
Photo caption:
The late, great Duke Ellington led his band from 1923 until his death in 1974 and was one of most influential artists in recorded music. Next month The Duke Ellington Big Band, formed in tribute to the man widely considered America’s greatest and most prolific composer, will perform at The Palladium, Dubai Media City.